Printer-projection system



Aug. 12, 1941. D. F. NEWMAN v PRINTER-PROJECTION SYSTEM Filed Aug. 26, 1938 Patented 'ug. 12, 1941 -UNITE1D ls'mrrlszs PATENT OFFICE Pnmr-Ea-PnomorroN SYSTEM David F. Newman, Rockville Centre,`N. Y., as-

signor to Trans-Lux Corporation, New York, N; Y.,earoorporaton of Delaware Application August 26, 1938, Serial No. 226,992

svcieims. `rc1'. ca -24J My invention relates to a combined printer projection system.

In accordance with my invention, a` printing wheel is related to a projecting field in such manner that `the line of charactersprinted transversely on a web coincides with the plane of said printing wheel as the latter proceeds with the printing operation.

My invention has further reference Vto a sys-` tem ofthe character described wherein the web receiving. the printed characters is movable stepby-step through'a projection field, each step of said web effecting the movement into said projection field of the last 'line of' characters printed by the printing means.

My invention hasfurther reference to a -combined printer-projection system wherein the printing wheel arrangement is provided with a plurality of peripheral rows of characters, said printing wheel being shiftable into alternate positions so that the printingmay be effected from either row of characters `as desired.

Various other objects, advantages and `features ofmy invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the printer-projectie system, f the novel printing wheel arrangement and its relation toa projection field, features and combinations of the character hereinafter described -and claimed.

For an understanding of -my invention and forI an illustration of one of the manyforms thereof, reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view `of a. printer- As herein shown although not necessarily, the i aforesaid projecting system may comprise a suitable lsource of light I with vwhich may be associated a reflector 2 whereby a beam of light is projected from right to left, Fig. 1, so as to pass through one or more condenser lenses 3, 4.

After passing beyond the condenser lens 4, the projecting light beam passes through a projection aperture or eld 5a formed in a plate or member 5, the beam of light thereafter being deflected upwardly by a mirror 6 and then vpassing Jones news ticker as described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,972,466 orV a Burry news ticker as described in U. S. Letters Patent'No. 680,693, are well known to the art wherein a rotatable type Wheel `is moved step-by-step transversely of a wide weblso as to print information'in lines extending transversely thereof. Those skilled in the art are familiar with `the mechanical and electrical operating arrangements utilizable in such printing devices for rotating the typewheel to a selected position, moving the type Wheel step-by-step transverselyoi the web, and moving the web a line space after each line has been printed, these various operating arrangements usually being remotely controlled from a central station. While my invention relates generally to such operating arrangements, I am not concerned with the details thereof since, as stated, they are well knownto the art.

Accordingly, in explanation of my invention, I have mer-ely illustrated a casing vC which is to be understood as containing various operating arrangements, as aforesaid. Supported by the casing C is a horizontal member lon which is slidable a sleeve `or carriage II from which upstands` one or more members I2 terminating in an upper bearing I3; Extending'vertically past the sleeve ID and through the bearing I3 is a shaft I4 which, at its upper end, carries a suitable type wheel I5v with' which is associated lan inking roller I6 carried by a bracket arm Il secured, for example, to' one of the aforesaid members I2. Coactable withfthe type wheel I5 is a platen I8 of lthe usualy character known to the art, said platen I8 being secured at each of its ends to an arm I9 and the arms I9 being pivoted for oscillatory movement in suitable manner as known to the art.

Supported in suitable manner isa member, not shown, upon which is wound a web W formed from suitable transparent or semi-transparent material such,` for example, as Cellophane or glassine paper. Extending upwardly from the aforesaid roll is a web or web'section W which passes between the type wheel I5 and the platen I8, and is disposed adjacent the aperture 5a, said web W thereafter extending upwardly between the pulling or drawing rollers 20 and 2l, the roller 2l having connected thereto a suitable shaft 22 whereby the web W may be moved stepby-step through the projection field a.

Assuming that the carriage II is positioned in line-starting position at the extreme end of the projection field 5a toward the left, Fig. 2, the operator, by a control suitably effected on the known mechanism, causes rotation of the shaft I4 whereby the printing wheel .I5 is rotated to position the selected character opposite the platen I8. Thereupon, by operation of the known mechanism, the platen I8 is moved by a snapping action from right to left, Fig. 1, to thereby thrust the adjacent web section against the selected character and print a representation thereof on the web W. Immediately Ythereafter, the carriage II and the thereby-carried parts are moved a letter space from left to right, Fig. 2, by operator actuation of the rack bar mechanism 26a by the pawls 25, 26, this mechanism corresponding with the similar mechanism of the Dow-Jones printer and being actuatable and operable in generally the same manner. In this manner, the printing operation proceeds letter-by-letter until all or a desired part of a line of characters is printed.

Thereupon, by operator control and in generally the same way as existing type wheels are returned to initial position, the carriage II and associated parts are returned to initial position and, simultaneously, in known manner, the shaft 22 is actuated to impart a step of rotative movement to the roller 2I in a clockwise direction, Fig. 1, whereby the web W is moved a line space past the printing wheel I5 and the projection field 5a. Thereafter, in the manner hereinbefore described, the succeeding line of information is printed transversely of the web W.

In view of the foregoing, it follows that lines of information are printed in succession on the web W and that such lines of information pass into and through the projection field 5a. While in said projection field images of such lines are projected onto the screen in enlarged form for visual observation as desired.

' An important feature of my invention relates to the position taken by the printing wheel I5. With prior art printers, the printing wheel is disposed in a vertical plane and, therefore, if an image of said printing wheel is not to be projected, it necessarily follows that said printing wheel must be positioned below the projection field. Dueto 'the vertical disposition thereof, it results, therefore, `that there is a substantial length of web between the printing position and the bottom of the projectionfield This substantial length of web carries a plurality of printed lines and, accordingly, with prior art practice,l substantial delay occurs between the printing and projecting operations.

By my invention, the printing wheel I5 is positioned in a horizontal plane or substantially so and, with a vertical projection field, the plane of said printing wheel is at right angles to the plane of said projection field. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the plane P of the printing wheel I5 is disposed at right angles with respect to the web section in the projection field, said plane of the printing wheel being that plane which passes through the rim or periphery thereof and is disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of said printing wheel. Accordingly, the horizontal printing wheel of my invention may be positioned extremely close to the bottom of the projection field and, even so, there is no projection of an image thereof.

As indicated in Fig. 2, a plurality of printed lines are in the projection field 5a and the printing wheel I5 is printing the next line. As soon as this line is printed, the subsequent operation of the web-drawing rollers 20, 2I moves the line just printed into said projection field. This is highly desirable, although it shall be understood that my invention is not to be so limited, because contributing to the quick release of news items.

An added feature of my invention relates to the provision of a printing wheel I5 having a plurality of peripheral rows of characters. With such an arrangement, the printing wheel is necessarily movable to alternate positions depending upon the particular row of characters in which a selected character is to be found. In order thus to position said printing wheel I5 in alternate Vertical positions, the shaft I4 is so mounted in its bearings that it may be vertically adjustable. Carried by the shaft III are a plurality of spaced collars 28, 29 with which is coactable a pivoted lever 30 utilizable for moving the shaft I4 to a desired vertical position and retaining the same in said position. It will be understood that this lever 30 may be suitably actuated under remote or other control for the desired purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have diagrammatically illustrated various well known devices and expediente ofl the printer and projecting arts. Thus, it is Well known that, for satisfactory projection, a retarding force should be applied to the web justas it enters the projection field. -With the present form of my invention, I have shown the member 5 as comprising oppositely disposed spring sections 5b, 5b which engage the web W at the bottom of the projection field and hold it against the 'member at the opposite sideV of the web W for the purpose specified. Further, it will be understood that the printing wheel I5 may be equipped with a suitable known mask, not shown, whereby, upon operation of the platen, only the selected characteris printed without smudging by the adjacent characters. A

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may bev made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

' What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, printing means Comprising a printingwheel for printing lines of characters transversely on a transparent or translucent web, means for drawing said web upwardly from said printing wheel, said drawing means being spaced above said printing wheel .tol such extent that there is formed therebelow a substantially vertical projection field having sufcient height to receive several of the printed lines at a given time, means comprising a projecting system for passing a projecting light beam substantially horizontally through said projection field, said projecting system comprising a condenser lens at one side of said projection field and an objective lens at the other side thereof, and means comprising a shaft remaining continuously in a vertical position on which said printing'wheel is rotatively supported in a horizontal plane, the plane of said printing wheel coinciding with each printed line as the latter is printed, the horizontal plane of said printing wheel as it prints on the web being disposed substantially at right angles to the substantially vertical plane of said projection eld.

2. In combination, printing means comprising a printing wheel for printing lines of chacracters transversely on a transparent or translucent web, means for drawing said web upwardly from said printing wheel in step-by-step fashion, said drawing means being spaced above said printing wheel to such extent that there is formed therebelow a substantially vertical projection field having sufcient height to receive several of the printed lines at a given time, means comprising a projecting system for passing a projecting light beam substantially horizontally through said projection field, said projecting system comprising a condenser lens at one side of said projection eld and an objective lens at the other side thereof, and means comprising a shaft remaining continuously in a vertical position on which said printing wheel is rotatively supported in a horizontal plane, the plane of said printing wheel coinciding with each printed line as the latter is printed, the horizontal plane of said printing c less than a single step of movementof said web.

3. In combination, printing means comprising a printing wheel for printing lines of characters transversely on a transparent or translucent web, said printing wheel being rotatably mounted and having a plurality of peripheral rows of characters thereon, means for shifting said printing wheel to alternate positions whereby the printing operation may be effected from a desired row of said characters, means for drawing said web upwardly from said printing wheel, said drawing means being spaced above said printing wheel to such extent that there is formed therebelow a substantially vertical projection field having sufcient height to receive several of the printed lines at a given time, means comprising a projecting system for passing a projecting light beam substantially horizontally through said projection field, said projecting system comprising a condenser lens at one side of said projection field and an objective lens at the other side thereof, and means comprising a shaft remaining continuously in a vertical position on which said printing wheel is rotatively supported in a horizontal plane, the plane of said printing wheel coinciding with each printed line as the latter is printed, the horizontal plane of said printing wheel as it prints on the web being disposed substantially at right angles to the substantially vertical plane of said projection iield.

DAVID F. NEWMAN. 

